So, after an 8-0 Spring Season full of blowout games, we decided to try an AAU Tournament over Memorial Day weekend. Jared's family had camping plans, so we missed him greatly. Rowland's family also had plans, but they changed them up to allow Rowland to participate, and he was greatly needed! The tournament was a humbling experience for the boys. We lost all three games. But it is good for them to remember being on the other side, and gives them something to shoot for. Here's some highlights ...
Game 1 Thunder vrs Vivint Elite
May 27, 2011 (5:00)
Glad this was our first game! While it was a loss, it wasn't a beatdown, and Callahan, Mason and Rowland especially landed some spectacular shots ... unfortunately the other team did too *Ü* 48-60.
Game 2 Thunder vrs Madison Cats
May 28, 2011 (9:00)
This team came in from Idaho. Makes me feel grateful that this opportunity is SO close by for us. The boys didn't seem quite as "on" as in the last game, there were a lot of missed shots ... but enough great shots to make a highlight reel too. 35 - 62.
Game 3 Thunder vrs Royals
May 28, 2011 (1:00)
We came into this game a little apprehensive, as this team had beaten both teams we had played thus far. We had heard there was a big kid on the team ... is he really 12? Can I see a birth certificate please? I think the team was a good team even without their #16 (who looked at least 16), but it was really hard to see anything past that one kid. We had a few injuries, Callahan went down toward the end and didn't make it back into the game. Short video ... not a lot of highlights, but it was Joey's best game ... 19-56
So ... I don't know that we're quite ready for full competition. We are going to play up for summer season, against 7th and 8th graders. There will probably be some stiff competition, but not this AAU level play. And maybe we can bid farewell to the gold/white uniforms.
Spring season has started ... we're happy to have Mason back on the team *Ü*. Coming in as a well-working team and all 6th graders (in a 5th/6th league), I do expect the team to dominate this season. The team would probably consider going competition (Superleague), but once you go competition, the rec league won't let you come back and play, and I don't know if Superleague seasons run year round like this league does. While our team could probably hold their own up a grade against 7th graders, playing up here would pit them against 8th graders too, and the height and skill difference there is a little too great. That shift will come shortly (in summer or fall) as our boys shift to 7th grade anyway.
Here's the Hoop Highlights ...
Game 1
March 26, 2011
Win (62-15)
An easy win. Jared started us off ... boy did he start us off! While everyone did well, Rowland was the top scorer with 18 points! Not really any outside shots going in this game, almost everything was popped up from right under the basket. We were missing Stockton today. Nice to have Mason back on the team :)
Game 2
April 2, 2011
Win (ah ...who's counting?)
Today was actually a tough game ... tough in that the teams were woefully mismatched. It's actually HARD ... what do you do when your team is working like clockwork and the other team can't land a shot (seriously, at the half, the other team was zero and they had stopped counting our baskets). I've been on the other side, when it's YOUR kids who are getting demolished, I know it isn't any fun. Our coach can't pull the "good" kids out ... all the kids on the team are good. Do you tell our boys to purposely MISS? They started taking harder outside shots ... but they made many of those too. During the third quarter, our boys did hold back, letting the other team get shots off, letting them get the rebounds ... it was actually a very quiet game ... not much cheering, no adrenaline rush. I think the score was 83-32. But you can see how well our boys work together. There was SO much passing and selfless sharing of the ball. We were missing Rowland and Tanner today... and Joey got a haircut!
Game 3
April 9, 2011
Win (63-14)
It was a cold and snowy day ... isn't is supposed to be SPRING? The other sports (soccer, baseball, flag football) were all cancelled because of the weather, but basketball goes on! Another easy win for the team. We had a complete team today, and EVERYONE scored! I am missing one of Stockton's shots (for some reason I thought the other team was throwing the ball in and didn't have the camera ready).
Game 4
April 16, 2011
Win (82-14)
Missing Parker today. Everyone on our team scored.
Game 5
April 30,
Win (54-13)
We had a complete team today, and everyone scored! While it was an easy win, it was not a complete runaway like some of the previous games. It was another snowy spring day ... soccer games canceled, so glad that basketball plays on no matter the weather!
Game 6
May 7, 2011
Win (57-24)
I was late coming to the game today, missed most of the first quarter. I was just off today, also missed some more shots during the game (including the final shot by Tanner). This was probably the most competitive game. A couple former teammates on the other team. Still a fairly easy win. Tanner's birthday celebration after. Happy birthday Tanner!
Game 7
May 14, 2011
Win (64-12)
Missing Brendan today ... but everyone who was there scored. Our team isn't super tall, but there were several really small kids on the opposing team. During the first few minutes, our team was actually behind! Our boys had made one basket, then the other team made a three pointer. The first time the opposing team has been ahead all season *Ü*
Game 8
May 21, 2011
Win (85-27)
The final game of the season. Keaton came to watch too, as it was the opposing team was his coach and a couple (4th grade) players from his team. Just a couple notes on the song in the video above ... MatchboxTwenty's "How Far We've Come" ... this team really HAS come a long way. It was a year ago, Spring Season 2010 that this group of boys first came together. It's a great group of boys! Also, the song talks about the world coming to an end ... ironic as May21, 2011 was said by some to be "Rapture" ... the end of the world. I guess they were wrong *Ü* Just the end of the spring season.
So ... up next ... an AAU Tournament and then summer season (playing 5th/6th again, or willing to risk 7th/8th division? True, the boys might be on the other end, the ones getting beat ... but I don't know that we need another season of domination). I'm happy to bid these "gold/yellow, hard to tell the difference from the white" uniforms goodbye! Wonder what they will be next season?
Keaton has played Junior Jazz for the past few years, but decided he wanted MORE basketball, so he signed up for Spring season, joining a coach and his son that Callahan had played with (and against). It was a good little team, 7-1 for the season. Here are the highlights (most recent at the top).
May 21, 2011 (Game 8)
A slow game, especially in the first half. Neither team could get the ball in the basket. Our team finally snapped out of it for the second half ... but it's a shorter video than usual *Ü*
May 15, 2011 (Game 7)
... another easy win ... I received a new video camera for Mother's Day, this was my first time using it. It makes it easier to zoom in and zoom back out :) Hopefully, I was able to get more/better video. I don't think I missed any shots today.
May 07, 2011 (Game 6)
Happy to be at this game, as there was a possible conflict with a scouting activity ... easy win for the team. I missed the first basket (by Max) and a steal/layup (by Keaton) in the second half.
April 30, 2011 (Game 5)
The game started off pretty even, the our team pulled ahead and stayed there for the rest of the game. Lots of nice shots from our boys! Keaton got a couple great steals (I often don't get the defensive plays on video) and turned them into fast break layups. Nice win!
April 16, 2011 (Game 4)
We had Callahan's game right before, I barely got there to catch the start of the game. It was a pretty easy win for the boys.
April 9, 2011 (Game 3)
Cold and snowy day ... all outside sports were cancelled, but BASKETBALL plays on! If you see a familiar face on the side, Callahan's coach was the coach for the opposing team (he is coaching four different teams!) It was a pretty good match, but our team was victorious.
April 2, 2011 (Game 2)
Dad took Keaton to the game today (and took the video with his Iphone), as Mom was busy at Callahan's game, which was at the same time. Keaton did great and the team won.
March 26, 2011 (Game 1)
The opposing team is probably the toughest our kids will have to face this season. We lost the game, but kept it close. The video is just a few quick clips of Keaton.
